Roger Ebert, widely viewed as America’s most influential film critic, has died at the age of 70.
The Pulitzer Prize winner had endured multiple health problems since 2002 when he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. He revealed earlier this week that the cancer had returned.
Ebert provided an audio commentary for the “Citizen Kane” Criterion laser disc and subsequent Warner Bros. DVD. “Kane” with Ebert’s audio commentary was screened at the critic’s 2012 Ebertfest.
An admirer of Welles, Ebert chose “Citizen Kane” as one of his choices in the 2012 Sight and Sound poll of top films of all time. He wrote, “Its surface is as much fun as any movie ever made; its depths surpass understanding.”
Ebert, who began reviewing movies for the Chicago Sun-Times in 1967, gained fame in 1975 on PBS’s “Sneak Previews,” where he reviewed films with his rival, the late Gene Siskel.
In his last posting to his blog, Ebert wrote: “So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.”
Ebert is survived by his wife of 20 years, Chaz.
Read more about Ebert’s passing at masslive.com
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